PLO official calls for demonstrations against US Embassy relocation to Jerusalem

May 8, 2018 1:59 P.M. (Updated: May 9, 2018 4:00 P.M.)

US Embassy in Tel Aviv

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Ahmad Majdalani, Executive Committee Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has called on Palestinians to protest against the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, declaring a "day of rage."

Speaking in a radio interview with the Voice of Palestine, Majdalani declared the relocation of the embassy as a "grave provocation," a violation of relevant international law, as well as the relevant United Nations resolutions.

The date selected for the opening -- Monday 14th of May -- marks the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian’s Nakba, or catastrophe. In Majdalani’s words, opening the embassy on this date adds insult to injury, and deepens the historical injustice perpetrated against the Palestinian people; in 1948, over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from their land by zionist militias.

He also reiterated a response to the relocation of the embassy in the form of the revival of the Palestinian Jerusalem municipality, and intention to refer a number of issues to the International Criminal Court.

Yesterday, the U.S. published the guest list for the ceremony, which will be attended by U.S. President Trump’s daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kusher, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, US Ambassador to Israel David Freidman and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt.

In addition, newly installed street signs have appeared in the Arnona district of Jerusalem marked “US Embassy” in Hebrew, Arabic and English.